Security Assessment Research Articles

Probabilistic scenario-based assessment of national food security risks with application to Egypt and Ethiopia

Abstract This study presents a novel approach to assessing food security risks at the national level, employing a probabilistic scenario-based framework that integrates both Shared Socio-economic Pathways and Representative Concentration Pathways. This innovative method allows each scenario, encompassing socio-economic, and climate factors, to be treated as a model capable of generating diverse trajectories. This approach offers a more dynamic understanding of food security risks under varying future conditions. The paper details the methodologies employed, showcasing their applicability through a focused analysis of food security challenges in Egypt and Ethiopia, and underscores the importance of considering a spectrum of socio-economic and climatic factors in national food security assessments.

Study on the Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Ecological Security in Stages Based on the DPSIRM-SBM Model: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Scientific assessment of urban ecological security (ES) is an important prerequisite to realize regional sustainable development. Previous studies lack the consideration of quality and poor systematic correlation, which could not reflect the internal dynamic relationship. On the basis of considering the time lag, this study divided the research process into the natural operation stage and the management feedback stage based on the driving forces, pressures, state, impacts, responses, management (DPSIRM) framework model and DEA theory, so as to effectively overcome the above shortcomings. Finally, we analyzed the spatio-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of the ES level of 108 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) during 2005-2019. The results showed that: (a) both two stages showed a slow and fluctuating upward trend in time series, and the level of urban ES in the management feedback stage was significantly higher than that in the natural operation stage; (b) with the passage of time, the spatial distribution of ES in the natural operation stage gradually developed towards the middle and downstream of the YREB, while the management feedback stage mainly evolved from the midstream to the edge area; (c) the level of urban ES presented a different degree of spatial agglomeration phenomenon, and showed an increasing trend over time; and (d) the key influencing factors gradually changed from pressure to response during 2005-2019. This research aims to provide an innovative perspective for the measurement of urban ES, and provide scientific reference for improving urban ecological sustainable development.

Сучасні рішення забезпечення оцінки та контролю безпеки постачання електричної енергії

The introduction of market relations in the energy industry brought the issue of energy security to a new level, defining one of its components in the market as the security of electric energy supply. In the work, a comparative analysis of the existing conceptual terminological apparatus related to the definitions of energy security and security of supply was carried out in order to establish the main differences. At the same time, assessment and control of the security of electricity supply, as integral indicators that make it possible to plan the activities of the single European energy market, have become fundamental issues for various countries. Assessment and control of the security of electricity supply in modern Ukraine is becoming an increasingly urgent task in connection with the connection of its unified energy system to the energy system of Europe and the need to ensure emergency-free parallel operation. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to form an idea of modern approaches to the assessment of the security of electricity supply in Ukraine and the EU countries, as well as to search for opportunities to improve the control system of security of supply. It was established that, apart from the prescriptive regulation of the basic principles of the formation of indicators, at the moment there are no unified approaches that would allow them to be used to create a national methodological base for a conscious and qualitative assessment of security of supply. Based on the results of the comparative analysis, the main ways by which the issue of security of supply assessment is considered have been identified. It has been proven that an important direction is the creation of a multi-level system of assessment and control of the security of electricity supply, as well as ensuring the control of the implementation of organizational measures aimed at improving the security of supply. Keywords: security of electric energy supply, electricity, law, monitoring, regulation, reliability, directive.

A secure and lightweight cloud data deduplication scheme with efficient access control and key management

Data deduplication technology is extensively employed to enhance the storage efficiency of cloud servers by eliminating redundant files. Cloud users commonly encrypt their data prior to uploading it to the server. Conventional encryption algorithms, however, lead to the encryption of duplicated data from different users into distinct ciphertexts. Consequently, these ciphertexts must be stored in the cloud since the cloud server cannot identify such duplicated data. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid cloud-based secure deduplication scheme tailored for implementation on large-scale data systems. Specifically, our approach leverages ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption (CP-ABE), which enables us to establish access control and key management via a private cloud server. Simultaneously, we leverage a public cloud server to cater to enterprises and groups seeking secure data storage. Notably, our approach ensures mutual zero-interaction verification between both public and private cloud servers through ElGamal encryption, thereby guaranteeing data unforgeability. The security assessment illustrates that our proposed approach ensures both data privacy and integrity. We also show that the approach resists brute-force attacks on the dictionary, prevents malicious users from deceiving cloud servers to return incorrect ciphertext, and achieves secure and efficient access control and key management. Furthermore, functional and performance evaluation underscores the superiority of our method over five other classical data deduplication schemes. Under the premise of having more comprehensive security settings, the performance of the scheme still maintains a good level at every stage.

Internet of Medical Things Security Frameworks for Risk Assessment and Management: A Scoping Review.

The massive expansion of the Internet of medical things (IoMT) technology brings many opportunities for improving healthcare. At the same time, their use increases security risks, brings security and privacy concerns, and threatens the functioning of healthcare facilities or healthcare provision. This scoping review aims to identify progress in designing risk assessment and management frameworks for IoMT security. The frameworks found are divided into two groups according to whether frameworks address the technological design of risk management or assess technological measures to ensure the security of the IoMT environment. Furthermore, the article intends to find out whether frameworks also include an assessment of organisational measures related to IoMT security. This review was prepared using PRISMA ScR guidelines. Relevant studies were searched in the citation databases Web of Science and Scopus. The search was limited to articles published in English between 2018 and 17 September 2023. The initial search yielded 1341 articles, of which 44 (3.3%) were included in the scoping review. A qualitative content analysis focused on selected security perspectives and progress in the given area was carried out. Thirty-two articles describe the design of risk assessment and management frameworks. Twelve articles describe the design of frameworks for assessing the security of IoMT devices and possibly offer a comparison of different IoMT alternatives. A description of the included articles was prepared from the selected security perspectives. The review shows the need to create comprehensive or holistic frameworks for operational security and privacy risk management at all layers of the IoMT architecture. It includes the design of specific technological solutions and frameworks for continuously assessing the overall level of information security and privacy of the IoMT environment. Unfortunately, none of the found frameworks offer an assessment of organizational measures even though the importance of the organization measures was highlighted in articles. Another area of interest for researchers could be the design of a general risk management database for IoMT, which would include potential IoMT-related risks connected to a particular device.

Novel risk index integrating practical operation limits enhances probabilistic contingency ranking for large-scale photovoltaic plant planning

This research addresses the pressing need for heightened grid security amid increasing uncertainties in photovoltaic PV generation. The research problem lies in the limitations of conventional contingency analysis metrics, failing to adequately consider both contingency occurrences and uncertainties inherent in PV generation. In response, a comprehensive algorithm is proposed that introduces a novel severity function framework, enhancing traditional contingency ranking metrics. This approach incorporates grid remedial actions and refines line and bus voltage classification by considering available correction time, aiming to offer a more robust security assessment. Motivated by the imperative to address uncertainty in PV generation, the proposed work builds on established analysis tools. A probabilistic load flow algorithm manages PV generation uncertainties, utilizing historical data for contingency incidence uncertainty. Additionally, a probabilistic model for PV plants integrates historical solar data, deriving hourly probability density functions to meet grid code requirements, including reactive power considerations. The justification for this work lies in the algorithm's demonstrated efficacy, validated on the IEEE 14-bus network. Results highlight its ability to identify risks associated with line overloading and bus voltage breaches. Comparative evaluations underscore proper coupling buses for security, favoring distributed capacity to mitigate line overloading risks. The study's key results emphasize voltage risk amplification with reactive power omission, stressing the significance of compensation strategies. This research addresses a critical problem, presenting a comprehensive algorithmic solution to enhance grid security amidst uncertainties in PV integration. Findings offer valuable insights for strategically interaction between large scale PV plants and electrical grid, contributing to an improved grid security paradigm in a dynamic and uncertain energy model.

A Novel Approach to Credit Card Security with Generative Adversarial Networks and Security Assessment

A Novel Approach to Credit Card Security with Generative Adversarial Networks and Security Assessment

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in seafood resources from the southwest coast of India: human health risk assessment and importance of seafood security

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in seafood resources from the southwest coast of India: human health risk assessment and importance of seafood security

Особенности оценки внешнеэкономической безопасности государства

Статья посвящена анализу международных подходов к оценке состояния экономической безопасности государств в мировых экономических рейтингах. Актуальность темы обусловлена тем, что все более широкое применение для проведения макроэкономического анализа приобретают методики мировых рейтинговых агентств, которые на основании комплекса экономических индексов ранжируют страны в определенных экономических сферах, влияя на инвестиционную привлекательность. Обобщены подходы к анализу экономической безопасности в разрезе их основных школ и фундаментальных положений. The article is devoted to the analysis of international approaches to assessing the state of economic security of states in world economic ratings. The relevance of the topic is due to the fact that the methods of world rating agencies are becoming increasingly used for conducting macroeconomic analysis, which, based on a set of economic indices, rank countries in certain economic spheres, affecting investment attractiveness. The article systematizes approaches to the analysis of economic security in the context of their main schools and fundamental provisions.

Government and Commercial Interests in Genomics: Improving Data Security and Regulation

The relationship between new technologies and security is well established in the fields of defence, law enforcement, communications and public health. This has been highlighted by recent public debate about the security implications of data held by companies operating in social media and information technology (such as TikTok and Huawei). While genomic technology had been less high profile in the context of security, this changed following the COVID-19 pandemic, which focused attention on the significant implications of this form of data. This article discusses commercial genomic technology, related government interests and the growing implications for data security and regulation, such as through the example of the Beijing Genomics Institute, a large company providing genomic testing services to consumers worldwide. We suggest that commercial genomic data has growing implications for countries such as the United States and Australia and argue for greater attention to be directed to this form of technology and associated data security and regulation, including security assessment to address the risks associated with international transfer via corporate entities.

Development of ice and snow tourism destinations in China: ecological security assessment and obstacle degree analysis

Development of ice and snow tourism destinations in China: ecological security assessment and obstacle degree analysis

Assessment Of Food Security And Sustainable Development In Ikere Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Assessment Of Food Security And Sustainable Development In Ikere Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Cyber Security of Smart-Grid Frequency Control: A Review and Vulnerability Assessment Framework

Smart Grid involves application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for monitoring, protection, operation, and control of interconnected power systems under various scenarios. Smart Grid Control (SGC) is an important aspect that is constantly subjected to various vulnerabilities, threats, and attacks under central and distributed control architectures. Cyber Security of smart grid control, especially, Load Frequency Control (LFC) is an important issue that is addressed in this article. The state-of-the-art in cyber security and attacks on smart grid control and intensive literature review is discussed with a comprehensive list of references on LFC. The authors present a part of their own work carried out on a systematic Vulnerability Assessment (VA) framework that can be used to identify weak points in the LFC system. The proposed methodology is explained for Vulnerability Assessment of the standard 39-bus New England test system and the 96 bus reliability test system to illustrate the concept of cyber security and Vulnerability Assessment of smart grid LFC.

Numerical analysis and structural optimization of a DLC coated capacitance wire-mesh sensor for measuring liquid metal-gas two-phase distribution

The detection of liquid metal-gas two-phase distribution in lead-cooled fast reactor once steam generator tube rupture occurs is vital to the security assessment of the reactor core. In this paper, considering the high temperature, corrosiveness and high conductivity of the liquid metal, a diamond-like carbon coated capacitance wire-mesh sensor is proposed to detect the two-phase distribution in liquid metal. Based on the software COMSOL, a numerical model is firstly established that is quantificationally verified by experiment to study and optimize the performance of the coated WMS. The measurement accuracy of the sensor is investigated by ranging the AC excitation frequency and structure parameters of the system. The results show that the liquid metal has blocking effect on the small bubbles and the sensor has great measurement accuracy when the transverse and vertical interval are 2 mm while the exitation frequecy, coat thickness and electrode diameter show little effect. This research could guide the measurement in liquid metal-gas two-phase flow.

Hostile interparental conflict and parental discipline: Romantic attachment as a spillover mechanism.

This study examined parental romantic attachment security as a mediator of prospective associations between hostile interparental conflict and parental discipline (i.e., power-assertive, permissive, and inductive discipline) for mothers and fathers of young children. Furthermore, this study utilized a novel, automatic assessment of romantic attachment security in examining whether romantic attachment assessed at controlled (i.e., self-reported) and automatic (i.e., a rapid word-sorting task) levels of representation differentially serve as spillover mechanisms. Participants included 235 mothers (62% White), fathers (55% White), and a target child between the ages of 2 and 4 (Mage = 2.97; 55% girls) recruited from a moderate-sized metropolitan area in the Northeastern United States. Families were assessed annually across three waves of data collection. Results from autoregressive structural equation model analyses revealed that romantic attachment operated as spillover mechanism for mothers. In particular, hostile interparental conflict was associated with power-assertive discipline through changes in mothers' automatic romantic attachment security. We also found that hostile interparental conflict was associated with inductive discipline through changes in mothers' romantic attachment avoidance. Neither controlled nor automatic romantic attachment representations served as spillover mechanisms for fathers. Findings are discussed within family systems and attachment frameworks. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

WIFI-SLAX (WIFI-CRACKING & SECURITY)

This research paper delves into WiFi network security with a focus on WiFi-SLAX, a potent tool designed for WiFi-cracking and security assessment. Exploring common WiFi-cracking techniques, security vulnerabilities in WiFi networks, and WiFi-SLAX's features, the paper assesses its impact on enhancing WiFi network security. Real-world case studies demonstrate WiFi-SLAX's efficacy in security assessments, while recommendations address its deployment in evolving network environments. By offering insights into WiFi-SLAX's capabilities and contributions to network security, this paper aids network professionals in fortifying wireless networks against potential threats. Research Paper Title: Exploring WiFi-SLAX: A Comprehensive Study on WiFi-Cracking and Security

Security Assessment of Industrial Control System Applying Reinforcement Learning

Industrial control systems are often used to assist and manage an industrial operation. These systems’ weaknesses in the various hierarchical structures of the system components and communication backbones make them vulnerable to cyberattacks that jeopardize their security. In this paper, the security of these systems is studied by employing a reinforcement learning extended attack graph to efficiently reveal the subsystems’ flaws. Specifically, an attack graph that mimics the environment is constructed for the system using the state–action–reward–state–action technique, in which the agent is regarded as the attacker. Attackers may cause the greatest amount of system damage with the fewest possible actions if they have the highest cumulative reward. The worst-case assault scheme with a total reward of 42.9 was successfully shown in the results, and the most badly affected subsystems were recognized.

Geometrical method for a fast practical static stability region evaluation of a smart microgrid

This paper introduces an innovative approach to the offline Static Security Assessment (SSA) of smart MicroGrids (MG). By defining a specific region in the operating hyperspace, the stability of a MG is evaluated in a practical way, through the study of violations of voltage limits settled by protection relays. This method determines whether operating points, generated by Economic Dispatch algorithms, are feasible or not. Unlike traditional methods, it doesn't require continuous training on large datasets if the system topology doesn’t change. The method proactively explores the operating region offline, enabling quick assessment of operational security. By analyzing the feasibility region in the hyperspace from a geometrical perspective, it provides rapid insights of the system security status. This eliminates the need for computationally expensive trajectory studies involving complex equations and online iterative procedures, as applied in energy function approaches and conventional methods like the continuation load flow. The methodology is tested by simulation on a case study reproducing a subset of the experimental MG installed at the PrInCE Laboratory of the Polytechnic University of Bari.

Risk assessment of agricultural green water security in Northeast China under climate change

Risk assessment of agricultural green water security in Northeast China under climate change

A Literature Survey on System Security and Network Vulnerability Assessment

This abstract outlines a detailed study on improving network security through vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, using tools like Nessus, Nmap, Metasploit, on the Kali Linux OS. The methodology involves identifying vulnerabilities, conducting simulated attacks, and developing a bash script to address false positives from Nessus scans. The research aims to enhance network security, provide practical recommendations, and contribute to cybersecurity practices, with a focus on both internal and external network security. Keywords: Vulnerability Assessment, Pentest, Nessus, Metasploit, Kali Linux